Limits upped to maximum

Idaho waterfowlers got their two ducks’ worth as they complained to Fish and Wildlife Commissioners about the reduced bag limit last year.

This year the commission upped the daily limit from five to seven, the maximum allowed by federal law.

Idaho hunters also will get the maximum 107 days of hunting, although the seasons are slightly different throughout the state. The Panhandle and eastern Idaho regions, which tend to freeze up earlier than southern Idaho, open for waterfowling earlier so hunters can take advantage of birds before they move out.

The season in southwest Idaho opens a week later and runs a week longer.

The canvasback season remains at 60 days in the beginning of the duck season while a daily bag including one pintail runs the whole duck season this year.

Mallards, including up to two hens, can make up the entire daily limit for a lucky Idaho hunter if that’s what flies his way.

Most of Idaho’s fall flights come from southern Alberta where several years of drought has hurt populations, but water conditions improved enough over the last year to begin an upward trend in ducks.

North Idaho’s top waterfowling areas include the lakes along the lower Coeur d’Alene River, Lake Coeur d’Alene, bays of Lake Pend Oreille and the Kootenai Wildlife Refuge.

Mallards are the most popular duck species at these areas, but a good number of wood ducks are found in the Lower Coeur d’Alene River area early in the season.